A Waterloo Region Record blog on the Kitchener Rangers

September 20, 2013

Journey starts tonight

It's the first of 68 games for the Kitchener Rangers tonight at the Aud.

The visiting Saginaw Spirit are in town after losing their opener 7-4 to the Barrie Colts last night.

If you're a casual fan, or simply one who can't get enough, here is an outlook and recap of the goings-on this past summer.

The Rangers were 2-0-1-1 against the Spirit last year. But both are entirely new teams. Saginaw has been in rebuilding mode for a few years and is beginning to realize the benefits while Kitchener will debut its youngest team in years.

Obviously, more coming from the Aud tonight. So check back. I'll be getting there early.

***

What a debut for Josh Sterk with the Oshawa Generals. The third-year centre had a goal and two assists in the Gens' 4-3 win over Windsor last night.

He is wearing No. 20 and centring the team's second unit. He also saw some power play time.

The Rangers got two picks for Sterk - a fourth round selection next year and a sixth pick in 2015. If Sterk hits a certain production based threshold, that fourth turns into a third round pick.

Sterk had 22 points last year and is on pace for 204 this year. That's not going to happen, but he will certainly see a massive increase on last season's total.

***

Overage winger Ben Thomson played in the Albany Devils (AHL) 4-2 loss yesterday. Both Thomson and Radek Faksa remain with their NHL clubs (NJ and DAL).

Comments

It's the first of 68 games for the Kitchener Rangers tonight at the Aud.

The visiting Saginaw Spirit are in town after losing their opener 7-4 to the Barrie Colts last night.

If you're a casual fan, or simply one who can't get enough, here is an outlook and recap of the goings-on this past summer.

The Rangers were 2-0-1-1 against the Spirit last year. But both are entirely new teams. Saginaw has been in rebuilding mode for a few years and is beginning to realize the benefits while Kitchener will debut its youngest team in years.

Obviously, more coming from the Aud tonight. So check back. I'll be getting there early.

***

What a debut for Josh Sterk with the Oshawa Generals. The third-year centre had a goal and two assists in the Gens' 4-3 win over Windsor last night.

He is wearing No. 20 and centring the team's second unit. He also saw some power play time.

The Rangers got two picks for Sterk - a fourth round selection next year and a sixth pick in 2015. If Sterk hits a certain production based threshold, that fourth turns into a third round pick.

Sterk had 22 points last year and is on pace for 204 this year. That's not going to happen, but he will certainly see a massive increase on last season's total.

***

Overage winger Ben Thomson played in the Albany Devils (AHL) 4-2 loss yesterday. Both Thomson and Radek Faksa remain with their NHL clubs (NJ and DAL).